The French Vote 'NON'

Partial Gloom In Paris

Paris:– Sunday, 29. May 2005:– After
one of the hardest–fought campaigns anyone can
remember in France, polling for acceptance or rejection of
the European Constitution ended tonight at 20:00 throughout
France and at 22:00 in Paris and Lyon. Voter turnout was
high and the suspense stretched its tendons to the limit,
to the very end.

With the closing of the polls, the 'winner' has turned
out to be the partisans of the NON vote,
rejecting the European
Constitution which would have formed the basis of law for
450 million Europeans, from the Arctic to the
Mediterranean, from the Atlantic to Russia.

Initial estimates have posted the results as 55%
for the 'non' and 45% for the 'oui.'
This is decisive, coupled with a national turnout estimated
to be 70 percent of registered voters, both in France and
in its overseas territories.

This is a bitter blow to all centrist leaders from right
to left and is an electroshock for France's
Président, Jacques Chirac, who called for the vote
in the first place. Tonight's vote comes as yet another in
a string of electoral rejections of his presidency.

Aside from Spain which has already voted to accept the
Constitution, there are eight other countries that have
planned referendums. Holland, which has had a problem
getting anyone interested in the campaign which winds up at
the ballot boxes on Wednesday, will not be reassured by
tonight's result in France.

Meanwhile there is gloom in the various headquarters of
the mainstream parties here, while parties by opponents
were already under way before the polls closed, with the
Communists singing the 'Internationale.' A reporter
stationed at the headquarters of the dissident Socialists
said they were ready to 'faire
la fête toute la nuit.'

Jacques Chirac, speaking from the Elysée Palace
30 minutes after polls closed said, "It's your decision,"
and went on to say that France will continue to respect its
obligations vis–a–vis Europe. But in conclusion
he added that the French can expect a 'nouvelle impulsion'
from the government within a few days.

Polling
stations in Paris saw a heavy turnout today.

Leader of the president's party, the UMP, Nicolas
Sarkozy, on television immediately afterwards, gave what
sounded like a campaign speech, for president of France, as
if 2007 isn't far off.